Page 62 of Shattered Pieces

What the fuck did I say to her? We’d been awkward before she was arrested, and I didn’t really want to confess my feelings to her here in the prison. I still wasn’t sure exactly how I felt, but I knew I needed her and my feelings were stronger than friendship.

How did I get past the guilt of moving on from Sasha? Could I even do that?

Rory appeared in the doorway as she started glancing around for her visitor, my stomach doing a little flip when her eyes landed on me and her entire face lit up. The guard snapped at her to slow down when she practically jogged towards me, and my mind became quiet the second she threw herself at me and hugged me tight enough to fix half the cracks that had appeared since I saw her last.

“You’re here,” she said in disbelief, and I hugged her until the guards told us to step back.

We sat to avoid getting in more trouble, and I gave the guard a dirty look when I took her hand across the table and he went to scold us.

I must have looked scary or something because he shut his mouth and went back to scanning the room.

“How are you here? Hunter said you couldn't contact me,” she said, her voice tight.

“I gave Skeet an ultimatum. He chose this as the better option.”

“What was the other option?”

“He could shoot me right there in my own damn living room,” I scoffed, her hand tightening in mine.

“That’s not funny.”

“It wasn’t supposed to be. He knew I was done. I’m not his bitch. Skeet can go and fuck himself if he thinks the world has to be miserable just because he is,” I grunted, hating how her face fell a fraction.

“I can’t believe him and Caden won’t even come and talk to me,” she said softly, pulling her hand back. I almost reached for her again, not ready to let her go.

“You’ll be out soon. Hunt is working his ass off to find a way. It’s so good to see you. I felt like I was fucking dying without you.”

Her mouth curved into a small smile, my heart fluttering in response at being able to cheer her up a little.

“You’re a bit dramatic, you know?”

“I’m not. It’s been awful without you. Shit, I forgot you were hurt. Did I hug you too tightly?” I asked, but she shook her head.

“You didn’t hurt me. Things are going good in here at the moment. Lexi and her crew have let me in, so a lot of the trouble has vanished. I like the food, I have unlimited snacks and cigarettes, thanks to Josie paying to keep my commissary topped up, and I’m getting lots of school work done. I might graduate before everyone back at the academy,” she grinned, putting her elbows on the table. “You know I wasn’t sleeping with⁠—”

“I know. Hunter told me, and I believe him. It probably helped that I knew you guys were sneaking around as friends, but I warned you it would come to this. I hate to say I told you so, but I did,” I said lightly, and she sighed.

“I know. I’m sorry it caused you trouble. I miss you like crazy.”

“I miss you too. I can’t always answer the phone if I’m working, but try calling sometimes. It would be nice to talk to you if I can. If I don’t answer, it’s not because I don’t want to. I’m so sorry I didn’t answer the night you were arrested. I was working and⁠—”

“It’s okay, D,” she murmured, taking my hand again.

“It’s not. I’m supposed to have your back.”

“Can you convince the guys that I don’t need a prison wife then? They’re driving me insane,” she snorted, and I chuckled.

“It would come in handy.”

“Dammit, not you too.”

I laughed, and she gave me a dirty look that was one hundred percent fake since she kept holding onto my hand.

She told me about the movies they’d been watching, what they’d had for breakfast, and gave me the drama of who had broken up with who, and I could have listened to her ramble forever. I didn’t want to go back to Ashburn Valley, I wanted to sit right here until tomorrow’s visitation hours and get her to tell me what she had for breakfast all over again.

As long as I was with her, I was happy.

Our five minute warning made me feel sick, and I could tell she hated it too from the way her fingers tightened in mine.